The precise coordination of the many forces and growth factors acting upon embryonic tissues is required for the development of complex organs. We are interested in how intracellular signalling pathways are regulated during organogenesis. Many cell surface receptors use reversible tyrosine phosphorylation as a means of signal transduction. Studies in a number of biological systems have suggested that these signalling pathways are not merely ON/OFF switches but that subtle differences in signal strength and duration often result in profoundly different outcomes.

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The broad aim of our research is to understand how intracellular signaling regulators of the Sprouty family are employed to coordinate morphogenesis of the cerebellum and pharyngeal pouches and how deregulated signalling leads to disease.

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'''Cerebellar morphogenesis:''' The cerebellum is the brain’s control centre for motor coordination and defects in cerebellar development are often associated with ataxia or medulloblastoma, the most common type of childhood cancer. We are interested in how the cerebellum is constructed during embryonic and early postnatal development. Studies on conditional mid-hindbrain-specific Sprouty mutants have shown that these genes play important roles during postnatal cerebellar morphogenesis and we are investigating this process using inducible, conditional gene inactivation approaches in vivo.

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'''CHD7 and CHD8 in cerebellar development and autism:''' We are using mouse and zebrafish models, as well as in vitro biochemical approaches in collaboration with Danny Reinberg (NYU) to elididate the functions of these factors in gene expression and neural development

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'''Supported by the [http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/ Wellcome Trust]'''

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'''Supported by the Medical Research Council [http://www.mrc.ac.uk/index.htm]'''

'''Thymus organogenesis, pharyngeal pouch patterning and DiGeorge syndrome:''' Our recent experiments have indicated that several essential organs such as the thymus, parathyroid, middle ear and cranial sensory ganglia that develop wholly or in part from the pharyngeal apparatus exhibit multiple defects in Sprouty mutant mice. These same organs are affected in 22q11 deletion or DiGeorge syndrome and we are investigating the molecular and developmental basis of these defects in mouse embryos.'''

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'''Adult stem cell function:''' Both regulators of intracellular signalling (e.g. Spry1) and chromatin remodelling factors are important for normal adult stem cell function. We are investigating the roles of these factors in adult stem cells in the muscle (in collaboration with Dr. Andrew Brack (Harvard) and brain.

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'''Supported by the [http://www.mrc.ac.uk/index.htm Medical Research Council]'''

Patients affected by CHARGE syndrome suffer from a number of brain defects, including autism spectrum disorders, learning difficulties and cerebellar hypoplasia. We are using mouse models for this syndrome in which the Chd7 gene is mutated to elucidate the function of CHD7 in brain development.

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'''Environmental epigenetics and autism:''' We are investigating the hypothesis that exposure to certain classes of environmental toxicants might predispose an individual to autism.

We recently showed, in collaboration with the Brack lab at Harvard, that Sprouty1 plays an important role in adult muscle stem cells or "satellite cells". This work is continuing in collaboration with the Brack lab. In addition, we are investigating the role of Spry1 in adult neural stem cells in the adult brain.

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'''Researcher: Nemanja Saric'''

Current revision

Chromatin remodelling factors in development and disease

CHD7 and CHD8 in cerebellar development and autism: We are using mouse and zebrafish models, as well as in vitro biochemical approaches in collaboration with Danny Reinberg (NYU) to elididate the functions of these factors in gene expression and neural development

Adult stem cell function: Both regulators of intracellular signalling (e.g. Spry1) and chromatin remodelling factors are important for normal adult stem cell function. We are investigating the roles of these factors in adult stem cells in the muscle (in collaboration with Dr. Andrew Brack (Harvard) and brain.

Supported by the BBSRC

Researchers: Kieran Jones, Nemanja Saric

Environmental epigenetics and autism: We are investigating the hypothesis that exposure to certain classes of environmental toxicants might predispose an individual to autism.